Donald Trump is doubling and tripling down on his criticism of George W. Bush’s Iraq strategy now that the former president is campaigning in South Carolina for his brother Jeb.
Today, Trump appeared to wonder if getting rid of Saddam Hussein was a good idea:
.@realDonaldTrump: Saddam Hussein killed terrorists; "Now Iraq is Harvard for terrorism" https://t.co/UYpqI3w42L https://t.co/2NbkKdvalM
— CNN (@CNN) February 15, 2016
Trump likes strong guys: "Saddam Hussein was a bad guy but he killed terrorists….Iraq is now Harvard for terrorism."
— Edward Luce (@EdwardGLuce) February 15, 2016
Trump expressing a bit of admiration for Saddam Hussein despite calling him a bad guy. "He killed terrorists".
— Alan Rappeport (@arappeport) February 15, 2016
Donald Trump just said Saddam Hussein was a better leader than President George W. Bush because Hussein killed terrorists. Wow.
— ???? ????? (@ericgrant) February 15, 2016
Not everybody disagreed:
Is "Saddam Hussein killed terrorists" wrong? Saying that's "defending him" is just willfully missing the point Trump was making.
— Adam Blade (@Red_Mage23) February 15, 2016
crazy yet twisted truth. bad delivery. #PoliticsInAmericaHasGoneCrazy https://t.co/8d9kpz1lyK
— jodi gomes (@jodigomes) February 15, 2016
I never thought I would agree with D.Trump on anything, well I do on this 1, during Saddam there were no terrorists https://t.co/UNP3VXw8kd
— Adam Ismail (@aadanweli) February 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/maggiepriceless/status/699336515445399552
However, for the most part Trump’s comment was taken to task:
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@maggiepriceless Nope. Saddam was a huge backer of terrorists. Saudi harbored too. But Hussein worse.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) February 15, 2016
.@maggiepriceless He gave money to families of suicide bombers, celebrated 9/11 attacks, tried to kill US president, harbored Abu Nidal.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) February 15, 2016
@CNN @realDonaldTrump Saddam WAS a terrorist. He allowed terrorist training camp's in Iraq and funded them.
— Robert Richardson (@rcasonr) February 15, 2016
@CNN @realDonaldTrump Umm or he WAS a terrorist himself who killed his own people? Ugh.
— Shirien (@ShirienEG) February 15, 2016
So far, regarding foreign policy mgmnt, we know that Trump admires Putin & Saddam Hussein. WTF #Trump2016 https://t.co/ZY0IpGxeth
— lizbuddie (@lizbuddie) February 15, 2016
He nearly say "If 'Obama & other ppl' were more like Sadaam Hussein..?!" Journos @ the end: "Mr Trump tell us more!" https://t.co/PPXBpok282
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) February 15, 2016
Does someone want to explain to Trump where a large contingent of ISIS leadership came from? https://t.co/y1iWmTdAXq
— Joseph Karam ?? (@Joseph_Karam) February 15, 2016